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OD CUACO 2nd XI: SEASON 2014 REPORT If one of the secrets to success in team sport is having a settled side, it is little wonder that OD CUACO 2nd XI were unable to finish the 2014 season any higher than tied sixth, after going through a total of 39 players and four captains. Safety was only confirmed on the final day, with a second bowling bonus point, but in point of fact most of the hard work had already been done and four wins from the last seven games was a fine backs to the wall effort. Alex Lake had retained the captaincy, only to be claimed by the 1st XI early on in the season. Unable to match the bowling heroics that earned him the league award in 2013, he departed for the delights of Hong Kong in early August. We wish him well and look forward to his return. The fragility of the OD’s batting was perhaps the story of the first half of the season and this was exemplified by the abject failure to chase down 63 at high flying Upchurch in Game 9. There was a sense that this reverse might come back to haunt us in the final analysis; instead perhaps it served as a much needed wake-up call to the top order. We were able to call upon an array of capable seamers, but missing for most of the season were the services of a front-line spinner. Fortunately, Rohan Patel returned from first team duties early in August to give the attack the variety it had been sorely lacking. Rohan is sure to go on to better things in the game. The emergence of young Abhishek Patel at the top of the order was a major plus. A product of our Colts set-up, he batted with a maturity that belied his tender years, finishing the season with 290 runs at an average of 48. He is most certainly one for the future. James Alvey showed that he will be an important all-rounder for the club in years to come. In a tight finish at Addington Village, he saw us home with a nerveless 32* in a match that was perhaps the turning point in our season. Earlier in the same game, Tej Patel and Ben Smith had bowled superbly in searing heat to keep the score within manageable proportions. In July, we bade farewell to veteran seamer Dave Minette, who moved away to Hampshire. Mad Dog joined the club in 2010 and was an asset both on and off the field. It was great to see him on tour and he will always be made welcome at the club, not least by Billy and Taylor! Mention must go to Laurence Sanders for stepping in as skipper in the final two games. He showed commendable composure and good sense in trying circumstances, to emerge with a 100 percent winning record. Notable performances included: Craig Westmacott: 50* vs Rodmersham Abhishek Patel: 59* vs Chestfield Abhishek Patel: 53 vs Addington Abhishek Patel: 59* vs Hollingbourne David Fox: 81 vs Upchurch James Langford: 63 vs Upchurch Alex Lake: 4-28 vs Downham & Bellingham Dave Minette: 4-19 vs Downham & Bellingham Simon Henley: 4-13 vs Upchurch Simon Henley: 4-40 vs Sidcup Rohan Patel: 4-57 vs Upchurch Going back to my opening gambit, it is essential that if the 2nd XI are to challenge higher up the division next season, availabilities must improve. The 1st XI have shown what can be achieved with regular availabilities and consistent team selection. The onus is on individuals to make themselves available on a regular basis so the 2nd XI can field the core of a competitive side week on week. Then we can really build on the positives of the 2014 season and show our rivals the depth of quality that undoubtedly exists within our club.

OD CUACO 179-8 : OLD ELTHAMIANS 180-4 ScorecardOD CUACO 2nd XI suffered their 3rd successive defeat, going down by 6 wickets to Old Elthamians at Foxbury. In a reversal of last week’s situation, skipper Alex Lake was able to claim the toss as the hosts could not provide an umpire. He chose to bat first in the hope that the OEs would be spending a tiring 3 hours chasing leather. Fox and Ben Webster opened up, but after hitting one cracking four, Ben was undone top edging a pull off pacey opening bowler Gertze. Pete White (17) came in at 3 and he and Fox consolidated until Pete was unfortunate to get be caught down the leg-side. Adam Stanley looked in assured form from the beginning, and together with Fox they looked to be building a meaningful partnership until Fox (28) fell to a low return catch and Adam (21) was taken off the bowling of his old school pal Nav Venkat. Four further wickets fell and the innings was in danger of folding without a batting point to show, until Russ Newell (34) and Alex Lake (26) put on a spirited undefeated 9th wicket stand of 61. Full of attacking intent and good running, they lifted the score to a respectable 179 at the completion of the 50 overs. Pick of the OEs bowlers was South Africa overseas player Gertze, with figures of 2-35 from 13 overs. Full of optimism, the ODs took to the field and Ian Stanley was soon amongst the wickets, trapping Matthews in front for 11. Young Harry Newton shared the new ball and bowled some snorters without any reward. When Stanley had OEs skipper Bell taken at first slip by Fox, there was hope of a confidence-restoring victory. But it was not to be and for the reason look no further than OEs import Gertze. All bowling came alike to the all-rounder, as he plundered the ODs attack for a very fine undefeated 88. Gertze shared a stand well in excess of 100 with Hollingsworth and so when the last named was removed caught by Ben Webster from the bowling of Newton, the finishing line was already in sight for the OEs. Will Berry grabbed a late wicket for the ODs, but Gertze finished the punishment with some 20 overs to go. Ian Stanley, with 2-29 from 8 overs, was the best of the ODs bowlers on the day. So, contrary to your correspondent’s prediction of last week, ODs drop a place to 8th, only 5 points above the relegation places. The third division is a strong league this year but, with plenty of points to play for, we continue to look up rather than down.

OD CUACO 155-9 : CHESTFIELD 157-1ScorecardOD CUACO 2ND XI went down to a heavy 9-wicket defeat as they visited Chestfield CC on Saturday. Once again without the services of an umpire, stand-in ODs skipper Fox was obliged to forfeit the toss. Chestfield skipper Gibson had little hesitation in inserting the visitors under slate grey skies, with the forecast for more favourable batting conditions later in the afternoon. The highlight of an uninspiring ODs batting performance was an undefeated 50 by debutant Abhishek Patel. Coming in 3rd wicket down with the score on 61, the youngster compiled a mature 59 not out. Abhishek expertly farmed the strike in an undefeated last wicket partnership of 22 with veteran Brian North, 50 years his senior, who contributed a valuable 0 not out! The only other scores of any note came from Fox (23) and Billy Rouse (15). Lo and behold the cloud cover disappeared during the tea interval and Cox and Gibson opened the dig with Ian Stanley and Billy Rouse sharing the new ball. Ian worked up a good head of steam and was unlucky not to find the edge rather than go past it, as he did on several occasions. Billy was disciplined in his line and length and had a good shout for LBW refused against Gibson, the Kent League’s top run-scorer of 2013. With the score reaching 50, Fox turned to the guile of North and he was soon finding the loop and deception that has earned him 12,000 wickets in a 50-year career. Gibson passed 50 and then offered the sort of return catch that would have had many bowlers diving the other way; as it was, North was just unable to cling on. At the other end, Will Berry had replaced Billy, but the young all-rounder was at odds with his run-up and failed to find his usual rhythm. Ben Smith replaced him and bowled an admirable 6-over spell which accounted for Gibson, bowled for a hard-hit 89 with 30 runs needed. North’s perseverance went unrewarded and it was Ian Stanley who returned to have the new batsman Collins edging through the vacant 3rd slip area first ball. There were to be no further dramas as the Chestfield batsman got home with more than 16 overs to spare. So with a third of the season gone, the ODs find themselves shuffled back to 7th in the division 3 table. Your correspondent is confident in predicting: this will be the lowest we occupy during the remainder of the season

OD CUACO 152 ALL OUT : HOLLINGBOURNE 153-3ScorecardOD CUACO 2ND XI slumped to a disappointing 7-wicket defeat at the hands of newly promoted Hollingbourne at Park Langley. Not many games are salvaged from a start of 4 for 4 and so it proved, though it must be said that the ODs were on a wrong end of the freshness in the wicket, having lost an important toss. As it was, Messrs Fox, Rouse A, Rouse B and Westmacott departed without troubling the scores, though it must be said the last named fell to a catch at slip that would have graced a far higher standard of the game. Adam Stanley and John McLauglin set about rebuilding the innings until John departed for a well made 16. Calum Hider then joined Adam in a largely untroubled stand of 30, until aspiring radio host Calum was caught at the wicket for a valuable 14. In the company of new batsman Will Berry, Adam looked to increase the impetus. A really fine innings of sound technique and quality shot selection was ended at 48 when Adam was expertly caught off a spiralling thick edge, as he looked to drive the excellent away swing bowling of Matushik over the top. Young Will Berry then showed why he is a genuine prospect for the club as an all-rounder, with an entertaining innings of 45. He found good support from Simon Hunter, who was last out, caught on the boundary for a responsible 13. Matushik took the bowling plaudits with figures of 11 overs 6 for 15. With a below par score, the ODs had to be at the their very best with the ball. Suffice it to say Minette did not quite find the wicket to his liking until he pulled up lame in his 4th over. Simon Hunter bowled manfully and the returning Liam Bulloch tested the batsman until his lack of match sharpness cut short his spell. It was Billy Rouse who found the breakthrough when he jagged one back to have Jones LBW with the score at 49. Sadly this was to be a false dawn, as the Hollingbourne batsmen of Latter and Hammond went about their business largely untroubled. With the score at 115, Berry gave the hosts some hope, removing Latter caught by Hider at mid-on for a classy 54. With 20 runs needed, Hider secured ODs’ first and only bowling point courtesy of an excellent running catch by Westmacott. However, Hollingbourne were to secure a deserved 16 points with some 18 overs remaining, a result that leaves them 3 points and 1 place ahead of ODs at 4th in the table after the 5th round of games.

OD CUACO 132 ALL OUT : DOWNHAM & BELLINGHAM 126 ALL OUTScorecardReport 1In a thrilling finish, OD CUACO 2nd XI got the better of their hosts Downham & Bellingham, when they claimed the final wicket with the 2nd ball of the 55th and final over. Skipper Lake lost the toss and the ODs were invited to bat first on a pitch which, although slow of pace after the recent rain, was a credit to the groundsman in its consistency. Fox and Westmacott opened up, but the latter fell early, undone playing back to one that came back down the hill. Pete White joined Fox and they ticked the score along at 3 an over until Pete was dismissed for 15, playing slightly across one that again shaped down the hill from the probing left arm seam of Warnakulasuriya. Billy Rouse was next in and he looked in imperious form until he skied an attempted pull and was caught at mid-on for a quickfire 14. Then, with the score on 74, Fox fell to an injudicious pull for a well made 37. When Adrian Banyard was undone by a very full delivery and Will Sanders adjudged LBW, the ODs had slumped to 92-6. Calm in a crisis, Russ Newell (13) and James Alvey (22) put on an invaluable 28 run 7th wicket stand, before a flurry of wickets saw the ODs innings close on 132, seemingly 30 runs short and with their opponents able to claim 5 extra overs. Credit to the Downham & Bellingham bowlers, who shared the wickets around, the pick being Warnakulasuriya who finished with fine figures of 2-24 from 15 overs. After an excellent tea, ODs were ready for the challenge ahead. Minette and Alvey took the new ball and were straight on the money. Minette made the breakthrough when he had Crouch brilliantly caught by a diving Pete White in the gully. It was slow progress as the OD bowlers racked up the overs, keeping the scoring rate at less than 2 an over. As the pressure grew, Rouse was next in the wickets column, having Borland expertly caught in the ring by Banyard. A crucial change of ends saw Lake hit his straps, removing the 3 and 4 courtesy of a catch by Westmacott and an LBW, to reduce D&B to 54-4. Returning after a luckless first 7 over spell, James Alvey came steaming down the hill to have the skipper Kirkby caught by Fox at slip, without further addition to the score. Lake was back in the thick of the action, rearranging Goddard’s stumps and having ex-Charlton pro Mark Penfold caught by the ever alert White, to leave the D&B innings in tatters at 64-7. However, a remarkable stand of 54 ensued between Warnakulasuriya & Singh which, despite the best efforts of the ODs bowlers, looked to have finally swayed the match the way of D&B. Brought back for a final burst, Minette had other ideas and trapped Singh LBW for 20 and clean bowled Meekings for 2. So it came down to the last over, Minette with ball in hand, 1 wicket or 7 runs needed for victory and the draw equally plausible. No blame could be apportioned to new batsman Mendham when, in attempting to loft over the top to leg, he sent the ball spiralling high towards mid-on. The lucky man under it was no other than ‘Iceman’ Will Sanders, who accepted the chance with a minimum of fuss, much to the delight of his teammates. A tremendous effort from all the bowlers - Minette 4-19, Lake 4-28, Alvey 1-36 and Rouse 1-19, not forgetting the uncomplaining Will Berry, who bowled 4 important overs in difficult circumstances. The result leaves ODs in 5th place in the division 3 table after the 4th round of games. Many thanks to umpires Geoff Alvey and Alan Ewen.Report 2It is written deep in cricket folklore that when the OD's do well, England does well. You will hear of people all over the country checking play cricket for the OD's results, smiling to themselves when they hear of another 20 points for the OD's because deep down they know a strong OD team means England are strong.

The Downham and Bellingham (D&B) ground looked moist. The wicket looked well rolled but with the atrocious week of weather we have had meant the outfield was slow and even the car park appeared to be protected by a denser foliage than I remember last year. Perfect if any of the younger members wanted to entertain their lady friends in quiet.

A good toss to win then. Right on Que. and the skipper manages to lose. Put into bat the OD's got off to the worst possible start, Westmacott who has looked in fine form early in the season was bowled in the first over. A good partnership was then established between Pete White and Fox.

Fox batted well for his 37 but the regular fall of wickets at the other end meant the OD's were in trouble at 70-6. Some clean hitting from Alvey and support from Newell ensured the OD's escaped at least with a target to bowl at. However their 10th wicket fell in the 45th over giving D&B 5 extra overs to score the runs. Would this come back to haunt the OD's?

The second innings started slowly with D&B reluctant to give anything away. There was good bowling from both ends and Minette finally broke the deadlock when he had the wicket keeper Crouch quite spectacularly caught, one handed diving full length in the gully by Pete White. The first of 2 catches and countless stops he was to make in this position.

A slow but steady partnership was then formed between Borland and Goddard. After a brief spell from the top end Lake found much more success from the bottom end, breaking the partnership and taking four middle order wickets. Wickets elsewhere from Rouse and Alvey in his second spell left D&B seeming struggling at 60-7.

The OD's knew this game was not over, memories of last year and D&B being in a similar position before ending the game on 200. Sure enough Rukshan and Singh dug in and started knocking the runs off. The skipper tried all options but to no avail. Finally deep into his second spell accurate bowling from the opener Minette proven enough to break the deadlock trapping Singh in front LBW for a valuable 20.

The very next over he managed to do it again this time rearranging the stumps of the D&B opening bowler Meeking. With tight bowling at the other end but no wickets the game entered the 100th over to be bowled by Minette. The D&B no 11 is on strike and there are 6 required for victory, all 3 results are definitely still possible even at this late stage. No runs off of the first ball, now things really are getting tense. The second ball is bowled and Mendham hits it high in the air, the obligatory shout of catch goes out, then silence. First 2 people are going for it, then no one is going for it, then someone shouts "Will's", then you realise there are 3 William's in the team! Thankfully only Will Sanders in under it, not for the first time today a spectacularly unnecessary dive is completed and the ball is hidden, does he have it? D&B are still running, they are still hoping. Then after what seems an eternity his arms go up in celebration and the OD's have done it!

An almost impeccable fielding performance, with a special mention also to Fox who took a sharp chance at slip off Alvey, and tight bowling by then entire bowling quintet ensured the OD's come away with another 20 points.

As cricket fans all over the country look up the results on play cricket this week and they see 80 points collected from 80 on offer for the OD's this week they will stare with amazement as collectively they think if the saying goes when OD's are strong England are strong how the hell are England having so much trouble with Sri Lanka?

Then one by one they will question themselves as they think, is it what is written in folk law about OD's or is it just something Geoffrey Boycott says about Yorkshire?

RODMERSHAM 112 ALL OUT : OD CUACO 115-5 ScorecardOD CUACO 2ND XI earned their first win of the season at the second time of asking, with a hard earned 5-wicket victory at home to newly promoted Rodmersham. Stand-in skipper Fox invited the visitors to bat on a flat but lifeless surface. Experienced campaigner Dave Minette shared the new ball with club debutant Ian Stanley and they were soon posing questions of the Rodmersham openers’ technique and concentration. At 31 after a dozen overs, they may have been expecting things to get easier, but Minette had other ideas and clean bowled the stubborn Henry with a beauty. Meanwhile Ian was unlucky not to claim at least one wicket, but his 8 overs for 21 were an excellent start to his ODs career. Young slow left-armer Rohan Patel took over and was straight in to his rhythm, but it was the not so youthful Minette who struck twice again to reduce the visitors to 44-3. Exhausted, Minette gave way to another of the youth policy in Billy Rouse and crucially he soon removed opener Horne for a fine 31. After Rohan had chipped in with his first wicket, the dangerous 5, Beacon, began to farm the strike to some effect, taking the score to 97 before Minnete was back in the action with a run out. Beacon then departed for a hard hit 41, well caught by Joe Rispoli from the bowling of Billy. Two more deserved victims for Rohan and one for Billy wrapped up the innings in double quick time and with 14 extra overs in the locker. After a truly excellent tea, Fox and Rispoli walked out to open the reply. However, off the very first ball of the innings Fox contrived to run Joe out without facing. Trying to trot off the field instead of the blameless Rispoli, Fox was called back by the opposition, who’d presumably seen him perform before. Adam Stanley was next in to face the music, playing his first game at the club for several years, and he looked solid from the outset. Guilt ridden, Fox was poking and prodding around to no effect at the other end, until he was mercifully adjudged LBW. Mr Dependable, Craig Westmacott, was next in and the tempo soon increased. Adam and Craig moved the score on to 45, before Adam departed for a well made 26. Billy Rouse then joined Craig and they simply took the game away from Rodmersham with a stand of 60 made in good time and featuring excellent shot selection and running. Billy fell for 22 with 10 runs needed and next in Luke Hunter was unlucky to pick out the fielder set back slightly at mid-on. Fresh from his travels, Tom McNamara looked to finish proceedings in a couple of balls, but that honour fell to Craig who brought up his 50 when hitting the winning 4. Overall a great team effort and hopefully the start of another good season for the OD Cuaco 2ND XI. Many thanks to Gail Caddy for scoring and Mrs Lake for the providing such wonderful half-time fayre.